Hamptons hotspot where fashion designer died on yacht has become plagued with 'spoiled' rich kids following influencer-fueled tourism
Long time residents of Montauk - at the easternmost tip of Long Island - believe the death of 33-year-old Martha Nolan-O'Slattara exemplifies the area's out-of-control party culture.
The coastal community used to be close-knit and peaceful - until social influencers flung it into the spotlight.
'It's absolutely changed,' a marina operator who has lived in Montauk his entire life, told Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital.
'Social media put Montauk on the map. It used to be a fishing village… now it's a very happening place.'
With its stunning shores, charming feel and luxurious dining options, Montauk has become an influencer magnet.
But Montauk getting plastered across the internet has had serious consequences and residents are concerned about the community's future.
People have noticed a drastic change to the once small town, with massive luxury development projects and hotel and dock revamps to accommodate demanding short-term visitors.
'This is mostly a peaceful, family-friendly spot,' an anonymous local told Fox News Digital.
'But in the summer, there's a younger crowd that comes in and they party hard. You see the yachts, the nightlife - it's become a kind of escape valve for New York's elite.'
One lifelong resident said the area has become full of 'spoiled kids using their parents' credit cards' who love drugs and partying.
Community members were forced to consider the rapidly changing nature of their beloved home after Nolan-O'Slattara was found dead on a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club last week.
The young Irish fashion designer, who flaunted a glamorous life on social media, was known to visit Montauk frequently.
Investigators quickly established that there was no foul play involved in her untimely death.
A police spokesperson said a preliminary examination of Nolan-O'Slattara's remains was 'inconclusive' and that a cause of death is 'pending further examination.'
Daily Mail asked Suffolk County Police if the death was drug-related, but they refused to comment.
The yacht scene is particularly attractive among young elites, residents told Fox News Digital.
One woman described a popular route between Newport, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket lively boats filled with partying youngsters tend to follow.
Between yacht parties and a bumping bar scene, people have complained of loud music blaring all through the night, well into the early morning hours.
Michael Brown, a former DEA senior special agent, said the combination of a bustling nightlife scene and rich kids is a recipe for disaster.
'Young adults are going to do drugs,' Brown bluntly told Fox News Digital.
Young partiers with money are a prime consumer base for drug dealers, who may become inclined to encroach on the community as influencer-inspired tourists take over.
Dealers have been increasingly lacing drugs with fentanyl, and overdose deaths have skyrocketed, Brown, who is also the global director of counter-narcotics technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices, said.
'You don't know what's in what you're taking. And if I'm wrong, I'm gonna die in 30 seconds.'
Each year, more than 100,000 people across the US die from drug overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
'Local dealers spike cocaine with small amounts of fentanyl - not necessarily enough to kill, but to intensify the high and hook new users,' he explained to the outlet.
'We're talking about individuals who are very well-off, especially young individuals - they have the money to spend.'
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